Robert Burton. The anatomy of melancholy. Oxford, 1621
Anatomy of Melancholy by Robert Burton, published in 1621, identifies three types of melancholy: brain, love, and "windie," and details the causes and cures for each type. In the second section of Part I, Burton analyzes the emotional causes of melancholy. The number and variety of causes and the degree of detail in this section of the book reveal the interest in this subject during the early part of the 17th century.-GR
Burton, Robert, 1577-1640. The anatomy of melancholy vvhat it is. VVith all the kindes, causes, symptomes, prognostickes, and seuerall cures of it. In three maine partitions with their seuerall sections, members, and subsections. Philosophically, medicinally, historically, opened and cut vp. By Democritus Iunior. With a satyricall preface, conducing to the following discourse., At Oxford : Printed by Iohn Lichfield and Iames Short, for Henry Cripps, 1621
STC 4159
View available documents
Title Page
First excerpt (f2R)
Second excerpt (f2V-f3R)
Teacher Ideas
Geraldine A. Richards / West Genesee High School, Camillus, NY / English
Ask students to think about a friend who was feeling sad and list the reasons they might guess were the cause of this unhappiness. Then share Burton's list of reasons for melancholy. Students can compare and contrast these lists.
Kim Parker / Codman Academy Charter School, Boston, MA / English
Construct an anti-melancholy recipe for an Elizabethan and another for today. Compare and contrast the differences.
Matt Brown / Santa Clarita Christian School, Canyon Country, CA / English
Have students create a list of words connected to melancholy (i.e., sad) that might appear in Shakespeare's plays. Then have them use a concordance (try the link on the sidebar at right) to find where these words are used in a particular play. Have them read the relevant scenes and describe what caused a character's melancholy.
|  |
|
|
|
Teaching Ideas
Add your own teaching ideas.
Related Items
Concordance of Shakespeare's Works
|
